Dementia and Parkinson´s Disease Essay - 731 Words

Parkinson’s disease, a type of dementia also known as idiopathic or primary parkinsonism, paralysis agitans, or hypokinetic rigid syndrome/HRS, is on the rise in the U.S. Each year there are over 60,000 new cases in the U.S. alone. With the average person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over the age of 65 and America’s rapidly growing elderly population, awareness and concern are becoming significant points of interest for many healthcare professionals. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the destruction of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the midbrain (Substantia nigra). These nerve cells are used to coordinate smooth and regular body movement. In the absence of these cells, people often experience tremors (involuntary shaking or†¦show more content†¦Ultimately Pathak was able to figure out how to make the hardware for cancellation small enough to help those affected by tremors. As a result, Pathak’s research in stabilization has taken the technology in a new direction. Instead of trying to force the hand to stop moving (which often causes pain and irritation), Liftware stabilizes the object that the person is trying to hold. This is the first product of its kind that has the ability to constantly steady itself while the user is shaking. Located in the Liftware utensil is a microchip and sensor that can monitor the direction and force of the tremors. The motion sensor feeds data to the onboard control, separating the unintended motion (the tremor) from the intended motion (eating). The device is then able to adjust its movements using an actuator to counteract the users uncontrolled movement. Running on a rechargeable battery similar to the modern electronic toothbrushes, this electronic utensil can last on a single charge for several days. In a study conducted at the University of Michigan, researchers tested Liftware on a variety of patients. Before any patient was tested, a neurologist characterized the tremors of each of the patients. Then each patient was instructed to do simple tasks (eating, gripping items, etc.) with the Liftware utensil, which had interchangeable parts for both a fork and spoon. The results showed a 75% reduction in tremors in the patients hands on average. The price for a LiftwareShow MoreRelatedChildren With Dementia And Parkinson s Disease1488 Words   |  6 Pages 1. Introduction Dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain which impact on a person’s functioning, ranging from thinking to behaviour and the ability to perform ordinary tasks and there are different type of dementia with the most common types being Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease (Keast, 2015). 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